G. Oonk (Gijsbert)http://repub.eur.nl/ppl/4469/
List of Publicationsenhttp://repub.eur.nl/eur_signature.pnghttp://repub.eur.nl/
RePub, Erasmus University RepositoryGujarati Asians in East Africa, 1880-2000: Colonisation, de-colonisation and complex citizenship issueshttp://repub.eur.nl/pub/76015/
Thu, 16 Oct 2014 00:00:01 GMT<div>G. Oonk</div>
Summary
In this paper, I argue that despite the general belief to the contrary, there is a great deal of continuity in the history of the colonial and post-colonial practice of citizenship in the Indian Ocean region. This debate is usually described from the perspective of the state and its representatives. Indeed, more often than not, the position of the migrants themselves is not discussed. This paper aims to fill this gap. In the case of the South Asians in East Africa, I will demonstrate that migrants were able to negotiate their own space for identity formation and accepting and changing formal citizenship options. Indeed, they were also able to negotiate with colonial officials and, after the 1960s, Britain, Canada, India and even the United Nations about defending their rights as citizens or agreeing new regulations for international migration and citizenship. The debate on citizenship and belonging has become the centre of academic and public debate since the 1990s in Europe and the US. However, historical cases in colonial contexts might shed some light on long-term continuity in such discussions.South Asians in East Africa, 1800–2000. An entrepreneurial minority caught in a ‘Catch-22’http://repub.eur.nl/pub/76011/
Tue, 01 Oct 2013 00:00:01 GMT<div>G. Oonk</div>
Abstract: This paper focuses on the ambivalent relationships between entrepreneurial minorities and the state and its representatives. On the one hand, the (colonial) state encouraged entrepreneurial minorities to settle in its territories in return for tax exemptions, religious freedom and security. In turn, the minorities would provide the rulers with credit, financial services and pay tax. On the other hand, the minorities realized that their personal security and properties would always be at stake; rulers could change their minds and favour other communities or the rulers could themselves be displaced. The case of the South Asians in East Africa presents an illuminating example of continuity and discontinuity in the process of the inclusion and exclusion of entrepreneurial minorities in wider societyClothing Matters: Asian-African Businessmen in European Suits 1880-1980http://repub.eur.nl/pub/22896/
Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:01 GMT<div>G. Oonk</div>
Summary
Asian businessmen in East Africa supplied goods, services and capital to African, Arabic, Asian and European customers, traders and other businessmen. In this complex cultural environment, they had to choose what to wear on any given what occasion. Expressing dignity, wealth, trust and reliability are key variables in making cross-cultural business contacts and building an appropriate image. When they arrived in East Africa between 1880 and 1920, Hindus and Muslims alike wore their own traditional attire, headwear and footwear, or no shoes at all. When they left Africa – around 1970- they wore a typical European business suit, including a tie and shined black shoes.
In this article I explain the changing dress habits of Asian businessmen in East Africa as a result of –among others-
the change in political environment from European colonies to African states, and the shift in economic preferences from dealing with India to dealing with Europe. Nevertheless, these factors should not be seen as a social economic structure imposed from above.
This article shows that adopting a European dress style was a way to demonstrate an ability to modernise, move with the times. In the context of Asians in East Africa, it should be emphasised that European clothes are an indication of their „progressive‟ ideas, but must also be seen as a critique of their own culture.South Asians in East Africa (1880-1920) with a Particular Focus on Zanzibar: Toward a Historical Explanation of Economic Success of a Middlemen Minorityhttp://repub.eur.nl/pub/22938/
Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:01 GMT<div>G. Oonk</div>
The main object of this article is to falsify the common historical
portrait of South Asians in Zanzibar and East Africa.
Most studies, a-priori, assume the outstanding business success
of the Asian minority in East Africa. In explaining this
success, they emphasize common explanations and theories
for their economic success, like hard work, having a superior
business mind, using their ethnic resources for capital accumulation
and knowledge of (international) markets. In this
article I attempt to explain the success of South Asians in
Zanzibar, East Africa, from a historical point of view. My
main argument is that South Asians started with a far more
favorable socio-economic position as compared to their African
counterparts. They were more than Swahilis, accustomed with
a money economy and the concept of interest. In addition,
they knew how to read, write and produce account books.
Finally, they had access to the rulers, and were able to negotiate
profitable terms of trade. Nevertheless, many were not
successful at all and went bankrupt. Therefore, the success of
South Asians in East Africa may be explained as the outcome
of a ‘trial and error’ process. The successful remained in East Africa, whereas others left. India remained a safety
net for those who did not make out as well as a source for
new recruitment of traders, shopkeepers and clerksIndustrialisation in India, 1850-1947: Three Variations in the Emergence of Indigenous Industrialists.http://repub.eur.nl/pub/1820/
Mon, 06 Dec 2004 00:00:01 GMT<div>G. Oonk</div>
In this paper I describe three patterns in the emergence of Indian Entrepeneurs Indian large scale industries, 1850-1930. While doing this I focus on three variables: (1) the colonial attitude towards indigenous business, especially the transformation towards large scale industrialisation1; (2) the religious, occupational and regional background of industrialists to be; and (3) whether or not they belonged to a ‘minority’ group. While these patterns all led to the successful entry of Indian businessmen into large-scale industries, they differ in the explainable importance to be attributed to the different variables. This paper starts with a description of the entry of Marwari businessmen into the jute industry in Calcutta. This will be followed by the success of the Parsi community in the cotton industries of Bombay and finally the story of the Hindu industrialists in Ahmedabad. In the final section, these three patterns of industrialisation will be compared.The changing culture of the Hindu Lohana community in East Africahttp://repub.eur.nl/pub/59469/
Mon, 01 Mar 2004 00:00:01 GMT<div>G. Oonk</div>
This article describes the cultural change and adaptation of the Hindu Lohana community in East Africa. It examines changing food habits and marriage policies, both well-known examples of the Hindu notion of 'purity'. Initially, men of this community would marry Lohana women raised in India. Over time, however, Lohana men developed a preference for Hindu women raised in East Africa. In addition, Lohanas developed from strict vegetarians and non-drinkers to consumers of meat and alcohol. This was not a natural, harmonious process, but one with conflicts in which painful decisions had to be made. This process of stretching and closing preferences of identity have eventually led to an Indian East African identity. To understand the creation of this identity, this article argues that there is a need to study cultural change as a local (a well-defined geographical and historical area) and bottom-up (using the perspective of the agent who changes, adapts, mixes, integrates or assimilates) process.After Shaking his hand, start counting your fingers. Trust and Images in Indian business networks, East Africa 1900-2000http://repub.eur.nl/pub/76013/
Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:01 GMT<div>G. Oonk</div>
In this study I examine how ‘ethnic’ trading networks are created and recreated,
but may also fracture and fall apart. This occurred among some
Indian groups in East Africa, who initially strengthened their economic
and cultural ties with India by maintaining intensive trade relations and
taking brides from the homeland. However, after just one generation,
their economic focus was on East Africa, Japan and the UK. Many of
today’s well-off Indian businessmen in East Africa show little economic
interest in India. In fact, Gujarati businessmen in East Africa created
new, rather negative images of their counterparts in Gujarat. During the
last century, their overall image of Indians in India was transformed from
one of a ‘reliable family or community members’ to one of ‘unreliable,
corrupt and, untrustworthy ‘others’.